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Tactile Defensiveness Tactile defensiveness is a specific type of sensory defensiveness, or hyperarousal. Tactile defensiveness means that the person overreacts to touch and may refuse or avoid touching. About 60-90% of boys with fragile X and some girls with the full mutation are described as having tactile defensiveness. Tactile deficits may also include increased or decreased reactions to textures. The person with tactile deficits may have difficulty identifying objects or feeling and receiving information by touch. People with fragile X syndrome may be very sensitive to textures and tags on clothing. They may have strong preferences about the clothes they wear. Parents may need to cut out tags that itch the neck and buy clothing made of soft fabrics, without elastic cuffs or hems. Some people seem to need the deep pressure of heavy clothing to provide appropriate feedback. Touching other people may be difficult for people with tactile defensiveness. Firm, sure touches (handshakes, bear hugs) may be tolerated better than light touch (tickling, soft touches of the face). Some persons with fragile X prefer to be at the end of a line or otherwise separated from a crowd of people. Some infants and young children may not be comforted by cuddling, although most children with fragile X are not autistic and may enjoy cuddling, wrestling, and playing with familiar family members.
Self-help skills can be affected by sensory overload problems. Personal hygiene may be difficult. Some persons with tactile defensiveness may not enjoy bathing, having their face and hair washed, shaving, or having their nails cut. Visits to the dentist may be extremely anxiety provoking, as the dentist must necessarily touch the face and mouth. Art activities, such as finger painting, may not be tolerated by children with tactile defensiveness. A number of calming activities may be helpful with all of these activities. These are described further in the section on Intervention for Sensory Integration Disorders. Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
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Tactile defensiveness may also cause some of the difficulties with eating that are
experienced, particularly by boys with fragile X syndrome. Infants may have difficulty nursing or drinking from a bottle, due to both low oral muscle tone and tactile
defensiveness. Children may have strong preferences regarding the foods they will eat, preferring some textures to others. They may be very messy eaters, stuffing too much in their mouths before they realize they may gag.
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